Although Apple’s own Web site was still giving up info about Final Cut Pro 1.2 when MacCentral went to press with this article, The Apple Store is now taking orders for Final Cut Pro 2.0. Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional-level video editing software. Apple’s Web site has since been updated with info about Final Cut Pro 2.
The US$999 video editing package has been developed for specifically for professionals who want to edit, composite or add special effects to video. The software enables producers and others working with video to edit and output content to a variety of video formats.
According to Apple, Final Cut Pro 2 sports a new QuickTime-based architecture that enables users to apply wipes, dissolves, and other 2D motion effects in real-time, when used in conjunction with an optional processing card. Final Cut Pro 2 also leverages Apple’s new QuickTime 5 technology to improve performance on Power Mac G4 and PowerBook G4 systems. Apple claims that computing-intensive operations in Final Cut Pro 2 run 30 percent faster on single CPU systems and 70 percent faster on dual processor systems, when compared to Final Cut 1.2.x’s performance on similar systems.
Final Cut Pro 2.0 requires a 300MHz or faster PowerPC G3 or G4-based computer; Mac OS 9.1; QuickTime 5.0 or later; 192MB RAM; 20MB available HD space for installation; and one or more high-performance SCSI drives recommended. Visit The Apple Store for more details.
Apple is also making Final Cut Pro 2 available as an upgrade for users of the previous version for $249. Apple notes that Final Cut Pro 2 is neither OS X compatible nor certified for Mac OS X’s Classic mode, either.
“We are working to bring a version of Final Cut Pro to Mac OS X that takes full advantage of the new operating system,” said Apple.